someone has just stolen my child's toy :(

[goldenduckling]

My ds is 2.5 and crazy about bing (annoying black rabbit on cbeebies) since there is no bing toys available yet I found a pattern online and made him a cuddly toy bing. This has received a lot of attention and have happily taken peoples email addresses and linked them to the pattern.
This morning we went to the park and a woman approached me asking about my ds's bing, I offered to email her the pattern but she said she wanted to buy the one that I had made. I explained that he wasn't for sale but she kept offering me more and more money (£50 ) in the end after trying to explain I snapped a bit, said that its my son's favourite toy and its not for sale and to please leave me alone now.
She huffed off and left with her dd, less than a minute later my ds started crying "bing gone" I assumed he had dropped him off the climbing frame but couldn't find him anywhere, I walked to the other end of the park and saw this woman getting in her car with bing in her hands! I tried to run after her but she drove off, got my phone out to try and take a picture of the number plate but it was to late.
Who on earth would do that? I'm going in between being angry and trying not to cry. Ds cried the whole way home and is now looking around trying to find him
My dd is a year old and we have been in and out of hospital with her for her whole life. I made bing as a present for ds for being angel at all of dds appointments, he even helps to stop her crying during tests.
Lucky I have lots of fabric left over so I'm desperately cutting out fabric to make another one.
I'm just in shock, who on earth would take a toy off a 2year old!
I really don't think the police would be interested in a homemade toy being stolen, sorry for the pity post, I just needed to rant

• too 'hot'

That's one of the lowest, nastiest things I've heard for a long time. What a complete bitch.

So sorry this has happened OP. Personally, if you can make another one I'd just let it go for the sake of not upsetting your DS.

Happy to send a postcard from bing to ds from my town op if you pm me address x

Hmmm it's worth £50 to her. If she'd stolen £50 out of your bag would you call the police? I would seriously consider this option. If they have cctv they might be able to trace it easily and door knock might sort the issue out quickly.

Based on the reaction here Id worry a bit about the FB option. You wouldn't want innocent people been mistaken for this lady!

I live in a village too momtothree. Our police have to come out from the city. We never see one here unless there's a crime, we have no patrols or passing cops. Reports of crime are notoriously slow in being dealt with in villages without police stations because it takes time (half an hour or more here) to get there.

It's not just manpower, it's resources, money, red tape and paperwork time. I understand the OP's anger and distress, I really do, but I'm politely suggesting that police resources are better spent elsewhere.

Who the fuck steals a toy from a small child? Complete twatbadger, I hope she gets her comeuppance.

Poor DS, he sounds like such a lovely little boy.

What a truly vile thing for a person to do, let alone a mother! As a mother she should know how important a toy can be to a child that has grown attached to it over time yet, despite this, she has still done this to your DS.

Whatever you choose to do I hope she is found and realises what a vile thing she has done.

If there is anything else we can do op just write on here. I'm a children's illustrator and will happily do something lovely and Bing related, personalised for your ds, just send me a pm, hope your dd gets better too xx

I cannot believe how truly vile that is :( What a complete bitch for stealing of a child!

Try posting on your local spotted page as well, there are a few good people out there x

Awful

If you are happy to say where in the country you are, even just vaguely, then if any of us are in that area we can keep an eye out for it. What a vile, vile woman to steal a child's toy!!

londonrach what a fantastic idea.
golden I'm in Hampshire and happy to send another postcard. PM me address if you think it might cheer up your poor DS.

Re the thieving bitch, what a cunt. Hopefully karma will find her and kick her in the arse.

Maybe contact [email protected] and see if you can get them to do a programme about stealing :( (or is that ott?)

Actually, I would contact your local community support officer about this because I think it is alarming behaviour and it could do with flagging up.

It doesn't really matter that it is a home-made toy bunny; the real problem is that this woman stole something from you after you refused to sell it to her when she approached you in a public park.

You don't know, for example, whether she has done this before, or whether she is known already to the police for doing similar things or behaving in a similar anti-social manner in public.

Maybe my area is a little different, but our PCSO likes to know about this sort of thing so he can keep an eye out in case it happens again.

WHat a ghastly excuse for a human she is. Fucking awful bitch.

Your ds sounds lovely. I would go the shaming via Facebook route.

Is there any chance one of your friends has a photo?

Horrible lady, her poor child.

I actually think a Facebook post on your local page is well worth doing -- it's such a shame you don't have a picture of the toy but if you have the pattern, this might help (must be a stock photo at least!). Let us know how you get on, and hope your little one is holding up!

Thank you so much for the offers of sending postcards and thank you ollieplimsoles for the amazing offer too. I couldn't possibly ask for anything off you lovely people. My dh just phoned and his coming home (self employed) via Argos with a 10 ft trampoline

That is absolutely horrendous

ollieplimsoles what a lovely offer!

Bloody pregnancy hormones made me cry reading this! Poor little boy! I don't know how an adult can treat a child in such an awful cruel way! I hope you are somehow able to make him another one :(

Ds is OK, keeps asking where bing is, I've told him he's gone on holiday and will be back in a couple of days.

If you do a FB post, please link to it...it would be viral in no time at all.

Lots of great suggestions. Good luck OP.